On a very heavy pitch Rossendale opened the scoring with a try from Joe Burns on the back of early pressure from the home pack, the centre cutting in to dot down near the posts, Lewis Allen adding the conversion.

A neat grubber through from Allen opened the Sandbach defence allowing Ben Stephens playing in the unaccustomed wing position to win the chase and cross wide out.

Although conditions suited neither side it was the work of the Rossendale pack which was proving decisive as they dominated play for prolonged periods in the opposition half.

Eventually the pressure told and from a breakdown on the Sandbach’22’ ball out along the line created the space for Curtis Strong to go over for the third.

Again it was from strong play by the pack in the visitors ‘22’ that the opportunity fell for Sam Lowthion to bring up the bonus score and in the final minute another kick through from Allen was picked up by Matt Lamprey for a fifth, the outside half’s conversion closing the hale with Rossendale 31-0 ahead.

With conditions deteriorating further the second half was proving a struggle of stamina for both sides. But again solid paly by the pack and a break by Ben Stephens down the wing brought up the sixth with scrum half Gabriel McGuire coming up in support on the inside to take the scoring pass.

Sandbach who were being out muscled for most of the match did get over for a well deserved try, Harry Hughes claiming the honours, converted by Henry Mitchell.

It was no more than brief respite as a kick through by McGuire hacked on by Calum Whelan who picked up to cross close to the posts, both tries converted by Allen.

With both sides’ now tiring due to the dreadful conditions the final quarter remained scoreless although the Marl Pits side keeping the ball tight.

With just one game remaining in the league competition Macclesfield who head the table following a bonus 10-45 win away at Kendal are three points above Rossendale will complete their season at home to Penrith with Rossendale away to Wirral.

At the foot of the table Sandbach and Northwich are already relegated.

With a week off due to the Easter break all the final games will take place on Saturday 6th April.

Geoff Lightfoot